SHOWCASE MAGAZINE | 2018
If you have a condition that
increases your risk of a stroke,
it’s important to manage it effec-
tively – for example, by lowering
high blood pressure or cholesterol
levels with medication.
If you’ve had a stroke or TIA in the
past, these measures are particu-
larly important because your risk
of having another stroke is greatly
increased.
Types of Stroke
There are two main types of
stroke – ischaemic strokes and
haemorrhagic strokes. They affect
the brain in different ways and can
have different causes. Ischaemic
strokes are the most common
type of stroke. They occur when
a blood clot blocks the flow of
blood and oxygen to the brain.
These blood clots typically form
in areas where the arteries have
been narrowed or blocked over
time by fatty deposits known as
plaques. This process is known as
atherosclerosis. As you get older,
the arteries can naturally narrow,
but certain things can dangerously
accelerate the process.
These include: smoking, high
blood pressure (hypertension),
obesity, high cholesterol levels,
diabetes, excessive alcohol intake
Another possible cause of isch-
aemic stroke is a type of irregular
heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
This can cause blood clots in the
heart that break up and escape
from the heart, and become
lodged in the blood vessels sup-
plying the brain.
Haemorrhagic strokes – also
known as cerebral haemorrhages
or intracranial haemorrhages –
are less common than ischaemic
strokes. They occur when a blood
vessel within the skull bursts and
bleeds into and around the brain.
The main cause of haemorrhag-
ic stroke is high blood pressure,
which can weaken the arteries in
the brain and make them prone
to split or rupture. Things that
increase the risk of high blood
pressure include: being over-
weight or obese, drinking exces-
sive amounts of alcohol, smoking,
a lack of exercise, stress, which
may cause a temporary rise in
blood pressure
Haemorrhagic strokes can also
occur as the result of the rupture
of a balloon-like expansion of a
blood vessel (brain aneurysm) or
abnormally formed blood vessels
in the brain.
Reducing the risk of a stroke
It’s not possible to completely
prevent strokes because some
things that increase your risk of
the condition can’t be changed,
including:
•age – you’re more likely to have
a stroke if you’re over 65 years
old, although about a quarter of
strokes happen in younger people
•family history – if a close relative
(parent, grandparent, brother or
sister) has had a stroke, your risk
is likely to be higher
•ethnicity – if you’re south Asian,
African or Caribbean, your risk of
stroke is higher, partly because
rates of diabetes and high blood
pressure are higher in these
groups
•your medical history – if you’ve
previously had a stroke, transient
ischaemic attack (TIA) or heart
attack, your risk of stroke is higher
However, it’s possible to signifi-
cantly reduce your risk of having a
stroke by making lifestyle changes
to avoid problems such as athero-
sclerosis and high blood pressure.
You should also seek medical
advice if you think you may have
an irregular heartbeat. This can be
a sign of atrial fibrillation, which
increases the risk of a stroke.
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